Ukrainian military chief Oleksandr Syrskyi stated on Friday (16 August) that Kyiv’s forces have been advancing between one and three kilometres in some areas within the Kursk area, 11 days since starting an incursion into Russia.
Kyiv has claimed to have taken management of 82 settlements over an space of 1,150 sq. kilometres within the area since 6 August. Ukraine’s overseas ministry put the determine as exceeding what Russia has superior in Ukraine this 12 months.
Briefing President Volodymyr Zelenskyy by way of video hyperlink, Syrskyi reported preventing within the space of Malaya Loknya, about 11.5 kilometres from the Ukrainian border. He stated he hoped the preventing there would enable the Kyiv army to seize “many prisoners”.
“The Kursk area operation – we’re strengthening our positions and replenishing ‘change fund’ for Ukraine,” Zelenskyy stated on X after Syrskyi’s report.
Kyiv officers stated that at the least lots of of Russian troops had been taken prisoners, expressing hope it might velocity up the swapping of Ukrainian fighters held in Russian captivity.
Russia has known as the incursion a “main provocation” and vowed to retaliate with a “worthy response,” greater than 2-1/2 years because it launched a full-scale invasion of its smaller neighbour.
Russia’s Defence Ministry stated on Friday its troops repelled Ukrainian assaults in a number of areas, together with close to the villages of Gordeevka, Russkoe Porechnoe and others.
Zelenskyy hailed Russia’s losses within the Kursk area as “very useful” for Ukraine’s defence.
“It considerations the destruction of the Russian military logistics and the draining of their reserves,” he stated in a night handle.
Kyiv Air Drive commander Mykola Oleshchuk added on Telegram that aviation was an lively a part of the operation, focusing on the enemy’s provide routes and logistics centres. He posted a video of a strike on a bridge.
Kursk regional governor Alexei Smirnov stated Ukraine had destroyed a street bridge over the Seym river within the area’s Glushkovsky district.
Goal within the East
The heaviest preventing, although, was ongoing in Ukraine’s east the place Russian troops for months have been inching in direction of the strategic hub of Pokrovsk.
Analysts stated that distracting Russian forces from the east was one of many goals of Ukraine’s Kursk operation. However thus far there was no indication of letup within the east.
Russian forces have been 10 kilometres from the outskirts of Pokrovsk and about 6 kilometres from close by Myrnohrad, based on native officers.
“If the target was to divert the Russian effort from the Donbas, it’s failed thus far,” stated Yohann Michel, a French army professional and analysis fellow on the IESD Institute in Lyon, France.
He stated Kyiv was aiming to maximise the impact of the Kursk offensive whereas Russia was making an attempt to do the identical in Ukraine’s east.
“It’s most likely the primary one who will blink who must cease his personal offensive,” he stated.
Zelenskyy stated Ukraine was “not for a second” forgetting in regards to the east and promised recent weapons deliveries – over what was deliberate – to strengthen the positions.
Kremlin accusations
Influential veteran Kremlin hawk Nikolai Patrushev stated on Friday that the West and the US-led NATO alliance had helped to plan Ukraine’s shock assault on Russia’s Kursk area, one thing Washington has denied.
“The operation within the Kursk area was additionally deliberate with the participation of NATO and Western particular providers,” he was quoted as saying, with out providing proof.
“With out their participation and direct assist, Kyiv wouldn’t have ventured into Russian territory.”
The remarks implied that Ukraine’s first acknowledged foray into sovereign Russian territory carried a excessive threat of escalation.
Putin chaired a gathering of Russia’s Safety Council, together with Patrushev, and stated the dialogue would deal with “new technical options” being employed in what Russia calls its particular army operation.
“Washington’s efforts have created all of the stipulations for Ukraine to lose its sovereignty and lose a part of its territories,” Patrushev stated.
One Russian supply instructed Reuters the incursion might embolden hardliners in Moscow who advocate a much bigger battle, however Putin’s selection will not be straightforward.
(Edited by Georgi Gotev)
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